Rivers election verdict: Leave Justice Odili out, CGGA warns

Centre for Good Governance and Accountability, CGGA, has described the allegation that Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court influenced the apex court’s verdict on Rivers State election as a scripted campaign of calumny, warning that she should be left out of the matter.
It also warned those behind the development to focus their attention on building institutions in Nigeria rather than discrediting those who had helped to strengthen institutions of governance.
CGGA, in a statement in Abuja by Prof Nasiru Gomwalk, said that the insistence on linking Justice Odili to the Supreme Court’s verdict on Rivers State was an indication of desperation to discredit her by every means.
He said: ‘’This platform is inclined to make this statement on the strength of the concocted narrative making the rounds online to the effect that Justice Odili allegedly facilitated perceived questionable act in the run up to Supreme Court ruling on Rivers State governorship election petition. This surreptitious and well-scripted act was birthed by an online medium and it is being passionately driven by the same medium.
“While we are not averse to conventional and acceptable attempts aimed at curbing corruption in every facet of Nigeria’s life, the mission to demean the hard earned credible professional and public integrity of Justice Odili is what we strongly condemn in every term.
‘’It is on record that she has been contributing positively to the growth of the judiciary in the country through the display of unquestionable professional practices over the years. In all these, there had not been any incident of abuse of the best practices in the profession against her, as her career had been marked by excellence and credibility.”